
Oliver Solberg wins first WRC rally in Estonia
Solberg, driving a Toyota in place of the absent eight-time champion Sebastien Ogier, showcased remarkable composure throughout the event. Reigning champion Thierry Neuville of Belgium secured third place, rounding out the podium.
'After everything, so many years trying and trying and trying and dreaming, and me and (co-driver) Elliott (Edmondson) finally made it,' an emotional Solberg said. He credited Toyota for their support, adding, 'I've never had such a good time in my life.'
The victory also reshuffled the WRC standings, with Tanak overtaking Elfyn Evans to lead the championship by a single point. Evans finished sixth in Estonia, struggling to match the pace of the frontrunners. - AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Marchand, McIntosh top bill at swimming worlds with 2028 on minds
SINGAPORE: French hero Leon Marchand and Canadian prodigy Summer McIntosh headline as swimming's world championships begin in Singapore on Sunday with thoughts already turning towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Marchand is appearing at his first major competition since rocketing to global fame at last year's Paris Games, where he won four golds in front of an adoring home crowd and lived up to his billing as the next Michael Phelps. The 23-year-old skipped the world short course championships in Budapest in December, saying he was "exhausted" after his Olympic exertions. He returned to action in May and will concentrate on the individual medley events in Singapore. Having broken Phelps's 400m medley world record at the world championships in Japan two years ago, Marchand now has his sights set on Ryan Lochte's long-standing 200m medley mark. "He wants to see what happens in the 200m medley, without having any other races on his plate," Marchand's club president in Toulouse, Michel Coloma, told AFP. While Marchand is still feeling his way back to action after his Olympic heroics, McIntosh heads to Singapore in red-hot form. The 18-year-old broke three world records in a matter of days at the Canadian trials last month, including Hungarian great Katinka Hosszu's decade-old 200m medley mark. It was the first time any swimmer had broken three different long course world records at one meet since Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. McIntosh won three gold medals at the Paris Games and said she was "super pumped" after her scintillating start to 2025. "I think the goal is always to be faster and that's how I approach every day in training," warned McIntosh, who is set to compete in five individual events in Singapore. McIntosh smashed Australian Ariarne Titmus's 400m freestyle world record but the pair will not go head to head in Singapore, with Titmus taking time off before she prepares for the LA Games. Several other leading swimmers are doing the same, with Britain's Adam Peaty, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom and Hungary's Kristof Milak among those sitting out. There will be no shortage of stars competing in Singapore, however, with American great Katie Ledecky high on the billing. Ledecky has also broken a world record this year, updating her own 800m freestyle mark that had stood since the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 28-year-old is competing at her seventh world championships and is looking to add to her collection of 21 gold medals. "I have been to a lot of these but I still feel like I get the same excitement, the same energy from the team," she said. Ledecky and McIntosh will clash in the 400m and 800m freestyle, with the latter race billed as the one to watch in Singapore. The US team also features Gretchen Walsh, who lowered her own 100m butterfly world record twice in one day in May. Bobby Finke, Torri Huske, Jack Alexy and Regan Smith also compete for the Americans. At the other end of the experience spectrum is 12-year-old Yu Zidi, who was picked by China after announcing herself in stunning fashion at her country's national championship. Yu, sporting a cartoon dog on her swimming cap, qualified for three individual events and is part of a Chinese team that also includes men's 100m freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle and breaststroke contender Qin Haiyang. China will be looking to finish high in the medal table but they will be hard pushed to break up the battle for top spot between the United States and Australia. The Australians might be missing Titmus but Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O'Callaghan and Cam McEvoy should ensure they bring home plenty of gold. The Australian squad also features several new faces, including 16-year-old Sienna Toohey. Head coach Rohan Taylor called Singapore crucial experience for the 2028 Olympics. "The end goal is LA, but to be great in LA this very young team, which boasts 10 rookies, is going to learn what is needed on the global stage in Singapore," Taylor said.


The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Tour de France stage modified over infected cattle
COL DE LA LOZE, FRANCE: The 19th stage of the Tour de France has been shortened due to the discovery of a contagious disease in a herd of cattle located along the original route between Albertville and La Plagne, race organisers said Thursday. 'The discovery of an outbreak of contagious nodular dermatitis affecting cattle in a herd located specifically in the Col des Saisies has necessitated the culling of the animals,' said organisers in a statement about Friday's stage. 'In light of the distress experienced by the affected farmers and in order to preserve the smooth running of the race, it has been decided, in agreement with the relevant authorities, to modify the route of Stage 19 (Albertville-La Plagne) and to avoid the ascent to the Col des Saisies.' This considerably changes the profile of the stage, which will now be just 95km long instead of the planned 129.9km. The ceremonial start will be given as planned on the outskirts of Albertville but will now take place at 1230 GMT -- an hour later than originally scheduled. After a 7km parade the official start will then be given. The Col des Saisies will notably be bypassed with the race rejoining the original route just after the initially scheduled 50km mark. Three climbs remain on the programme with the hors categorie Col du Pre, the Cormet de Roselend and the final ascent to La Plagne for a finish at an altitude of 2,052m. - AFP


Daily Express
14 hours ago
- Daily Express
Volkswagen takes €1.3bil hit from Trump tariffs
Published on: Friday, July 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Volkswagen's net profit fell 38.5% year-on-year during the period to hit US$8.54 billion. (EPA Images pic) FRANKFURT: German auto giant Volkswagen said today that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump had cost it €1.3 billion in the first half of the year as it reported falling profit. Overall net profit fell 38.5% year-on-year during the period to hit €7.28 billion (US$8.54 billion). 'Higher-sales of lower-margin electric vehicles (EVs) as well as restructuring costs hit the result in addition to the tariffs,' Volkswagen said. Finance chief Arno Antlitz said Volkswagen was nevertheless 'on the right track' and that performance was at the 'upper end of expectations', if tariffs and restructuring costs are excluded. The firm struck an unprecedented deal with unions last December to cut 35,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as part of plans to save €15 billion a year. The 10-brand group also cut its revenue and profit outlook, warning of 'political uncertainty and increased barriers to trade' for the remainder of the year. It now forecasts a profit margin for the year of between 4% and 5%, down from 5.5% to 6.5% previously, amounting to billions of euros for the firm. 'The range assumes that the US will continue to levy tariffs of 10% on imported cars in the best case and stick to its current rate of 27.5% in the worst,' Volkswagen said. Volkswagen's previous guidance, released in April shortly after new US tariffs took effect, did not take the increased duties into account. 'Sales by volume in North America fell 16% 'mainly due to tariffs' in the first half even as they rose slightly worldwide,' Volkswagen said. Trump in April slapped an additional 25% levy on imported cars as part of an aggressive trade policy he says will help boost US manufacturing. That has hit European carmakers. French group Stellantis – whose brands include Jeep, Citroen and Fiat – said on Monday that North American vehicle sales by volume plunged 25% in the second quarter of the year. US and EU diplomats are currently negotiating ahead of the latest deadline set by Trump, with Trump threatening a blanket duty of 30% after Aug 1 if no agreement is reached.